Heinz,
If the belt goes over the alternator pulley the same as over the crank
pulley, then the alternator is not reversed...the only way a pulley will
turn backwards is if it is contacting the back side of the belt. In your
description, that is only the idler pulley and the water pump. So that isn't
the problem; can't say why you had two come loose in such a short time. It
isn't a common problem in conventional applications. Possibly you just
didn't have them tight enough.
You can very easily make a tool to tighten with by "sacrificing" a socket.
Go buy a relatively inexpensive socket to fit the nut and weld a bar to it;
this leaves the 1/2" square hole in the socket to insert an allen wrench
into so that you can tighten the nut. I can't imagine that if you tighten it
properly and especially if you use Loctite that it would come loose again.
Does yours use a wave washer or a split lock washer under the nut?
I'm sure that this doesn't add to the pleasure of the trip. Sorry to hear
that you're having trouble. At least it's up where you can get to it
relatively easily.
Travis
- -----Original Message-----
From: Heinz Wittenbecher
To: gmcmotorhome
Date: Tuesday, March 30, 1999 7:34 AM
Subject: Re: GMC: Anyone running the Serpentime belt kit besides me?
>
>
>>Does the serpentine belt have the alternator turning counter-clockwise,
>>perhaps?
>
>This may indeed be the case. I couldn't remember which way the original
>turned but judging by your comment it was clockwise?
>However, thinking about it... it may not have reversed the alternator
>rotation as that would also have reversed the AC compressor and I don't
know
>if it would take kindly to that.
>
>I'll be checking rotation again next time the hatch is off, but I do
believe
>it's counter clockwise.
>
>> This might explain your having a second nut come loose. The
>>alternator won't otherwise care which way it is turned. Also, if you are
>>running the serpentine setup, I assume that you have a special pulley. Was
>>it damaged by having been run with the nut loose? If so, you may have to
>>replace it to keep from having continual problems.
>
>Did that, i.e. replaced the pulley each time just to be sure.
>
>
>>
>>I would think that Loctite would be more than adequate to keep it tight.
Is
>>there enough shaft protruding from the nut to accommodate a lock nut?
>
>There is about 2 threads, going to look into that as an interm and figure
>out a better fix once back home.
>>
>>The end of the shaft is broached for an Allen wrench so that you can get
>the
>>nut tight, but most "pros" are lazy and use an impact, relying on the
>>inertia of the rotor to get the nut tight. Not as precise, but they rarely
>>come loose.
>
>Impact wrench is about only way now unless a special tool is built ot
>available. The nut fits deep into the pulley, no hope for a wrench to allow
>for the allen wrench.
>
>>If the serpentine belt has them turning backwards, though, that
>>would explain a lot and would be one more example of this mailing list
>>helping the rest of the group avoid a pitfall...not that the serpentine
>>setup isn't usable, but that it does require an extra bit of care.
>
>Yes indeed. Information = 90% cure.
>
>Will be keeping a closer eye (and wrench) on it
>
>Judging by the replies I guess I'm the lone serpentiner [g]
>
>Heinz
>
>
>>
>>Travis
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Heinz Wittenbecher
>>To: gmcmotorhome
>>Date: Monday, March 29, 1999 10:44 PM
>>Subject: Re: GMC: Anyone running the Serpentime belt kit besides me?
>>
>>
>>>Alright Emery... were were you when I was at Kragen's...
>>>I must be going braindead... never thought about a lock nut that size.
>>>I'm going to try and put another nut on in the meantime to lock it. I may
>>>have enough threads left showing and perhaps the Locktite will do it's
>job.
>>>
>>>Thanks for the reminder, even if it is late [vbg]
>>>
>>>Heinz
>>>
>>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: EMERYSTORA
>>>To: gmcmotorhome
>>>Date: Monday, March 29, 1999 8:28 PM
>>>Subject: Re: GMC: Anyone running the Serpentime belt kit besides me?
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>>locktite
>>>>
>>>>on it and will be checking it every few hundred miles until I figure the
>>>>
>>>>sucker out. >>
>>>>
>>>>Heinz -- try using a locknut. These are available from any auto parts
>and
>>>>some hardware stores. It has a slight taper that presses in on the end
>of
>>>the
>>>>threads that prevents it from vibrating loose. You can also still use
>the
>>>>lock washer if you wish. Locknuts also come with a nylon insert. I
>>>suggest
>>>>you use the all steel ones for the alternator. I used these for my
lower
>>>ball
>>>>joints and them seem to work very well.
>>>>
>>>>Emery Stora
>>>>77 Kingsley
>>>>Santa Fe, NM
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
